Stephen Merchant, known for The Office and Extras, is set to guest star in the returning BBC detective comedy Ludwig. The comedian will appear as Danny Sloane, an arrogant snooker champion, in the fourth episode of series two.
Clash with Puzzle Creator
Danny Sloane clashes with reclusive puzzle creator John, played by David Mitchell. First look photographs show Merchant focused on the snooker table, cue in hand.
Ludwig stars David Mitchell as a puzzle maker who investigates crimes, with Anna Maxwell Martin also featuring. The show launched in 2024 and was praised as "outstanding" and "perfect TV" by audiences, with many calling it "gripping" and noting it "keeps getting better".
Series Success and Return
Series one was the biggest launch for a comedy on the BBC since at least 2018, attracting 9.5 million viewers. The plot follows John, who impersonates his twin James, a detective chief inspector in Cambridge, after James vanishes. He infiltrates police headquarters to investigate his brother's disappearance but becomes involved in other cases.
Series two continues from where series one ended, with David and Anna reprising their roles. Newcomers Mark Bonnar and Sian Clifford join the cast. James remains missing, but John is now a Crime Scene Consultant for the Cambridge Police Authority, applying his intellect to "impossible" crimes. As an official staff member, he cannot use police resources to investigate his twin's fate.
Third Series Commissioned
A third series has already been commissioned. David said: "I am delighted that Ludwig will be returning to solve more of (creator and writer) Mark Brotherhood’s brilliant mysteries. I can’t wait to get started and have renewed the subscription on my denouement-learning app."
Series two of Ludwig premieres on Thursday August 20 at 9pm on BBC One, with the first three episodes available on iPlayer at the same time.
